A Golden Mist
In 1859, `The Royal Charter`, a steam clipper, returning from Melbourne, carrying 500 passengers and crew, and laden with bullion from the Australian gold fields, was wrecked in hurricane conditions at Moelfre, on the coast of Anglesey. Only forty people survived. A hundred and fifty years later, Saffy Williams, visiting the UK from South Africa, finds evidence that one of her ancestors lived in Moelfre at the time. In two fictional contemporary narratives, the diary of Sophia Davis on board `The Royal Charter`, and the memoir of Richard Williams, a young man living in Moelfre in 1859, the story of the lost treasure ship and the lives and passions of people associated with her, is told.
Another victim was a young man, Anthony Belt from Newcastle upon Tyne. Anthony was returning from Australia to comfort his parents over the death of his brother who had died from drowning in the River Wear, County Durham early that year. Anthony had previously served as a seaman, but he was on the Royal Charter as a passenger. His tomb lies in the churchyard of St Mihangel, Llanerchymedd, Anglesey. Quite why his body ended up there is a mystery. Even more mysterious is that burial records held from that time indicate that a George Richardson is also in the tomb but no mention is made in the inscription.
ReplyDeleteThe inscription reads
Sacred To the memory of ANTHONY BELT Second Son of GEORGE BELT of NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE: who deceased this life on the 26th day of October 1859, Aged Twenty nine years.
The DECEASED perished in the Wreck of The S.S.Ship. ROYAL CHARTER in Dulas Bay, with upwards of four hundred others,Passengers and crew on their passage From Melbourne to Liverpool during The dreadful Hurricane on the Morning of that day. On the 7th of December 1855 the DECEASED Was presented by the Shipwrecked FisherMen and Mariners Royal Benevolent INSTITUTION with the Gold Medal of that Society,
In acknowledgment of his heroic, humane, And successful exertions in saving life, On the occasion of the Wreck of the Ship BOURNEUF, in Torres Straits, whilst on Her passage from Melbourne to Bombay, In which vessel he was an officer.He also received a Testimonial from His fellow townsmen in recognition of The services rendered on that occasion,At a public meeting the Mayor of NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE; being the medium
Through which it as conveyed.